top women to watch in dc real estate

A publication of Sokol Media LLC SPRING 2016

DEBBIE CROUSESheppard Mullin

MICHELLE KILBY MKAssociates

DAWN BECKER • KATIE CHOWDHRY • CHRISTA DOMMERS JANE GUSTAFSON • ELIZABETH HEIDER • JENNA HOWARD

MARYJANE KING • PHYLLIS LIEBMAN • AMY NAVABIKAREN PENAFIEL • BRANDICE SCHAEFER • SUMAN SORG

TOP WOMEN TO WATCHIN DC REAL ESTATE

CONGRATULATIONSto the Top Women to Watch in DC Real Estate 2016

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www.sokolmediaonline.com • 1A

2 Dawn Becker - Federal Realty Investment Trust

Dawn’s focus this year is on three things - Execution, Execution, and Execution

10 Karen Penafiel - BOMA InternationalCome learn about how this leading organization’s chief lobbyist ‘Gets Things Done’.

2A Michelle Kilby - MKAssociatesMichelle’s passion for excellence has not only contributed to her success as an entrepreneur, but also as the 2016 President of CREW DC.

8A Debbie Crouse - Sheppard MullinDebbie’s experience as a consummate networker has not only contributed to her own professional success, but also to the many organizations she serves.

7 TOP WOMEN IN DC REAL ESTATE

Contents

NOT JUST A WOMEN’S ISSUE

From the initial look of things, the magazine you are now holding in your hands appears to be only about women.

I assure you, it is not.Yes, the issue only profiles women, each an accomplished professional in her area of expertise.Yes, the issue also profiles women who are serving as outstanding mentors to other women in their fields.And, yes, many of these honorees are also members of organizations primarily devoted to empowering other

women.Still, this issue is not only about women.Just as we have been doing in the NYC real estate industry for the past 15 years, this first annual magazine

honoring Washington, D.C.’s outstanding women of achievement is being launched not only to pay tribute to women who are pioneering examples of success, but also to create a blueprint for what is possible when women and men work together, and are equally represented at all levels. Research studies increasingly show that firms, regardless of industry, achieve higher levels of success when gender diversity and inclusion becomes a priority.

So here’s to all of the women, men and firms that are already benefitting, as well as to all those who will hopefully come onboard so that they, too, can continue to remain competitive in an increasingly diverse industry.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

Lori Sokol, Ph.D.Founder & Editorial Director

Please address all comments/questions to [email protected]

Publisher’s Page

The Korth Companies, Inc. wishes to honor

For her award in “Top Women to Watch in

DC Real Estate 2016”

We are proud to call Phyllis a longtimeClient and Friend!

The Korth Companies, Inc.General Contractors

Building Relationships and Spaces Since 1982

Phyllis Liebman of MRP Realty

7 Katie Chowdhry8 Christa Dommers9 Jane Gustafson13 Brandice Schaefer 14 Elizabeth Heider

15 Suman Sorg 5A MaryJane King6A Jenna Howard 7A Phyllis Liebman13A Amy Navabi

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MICHELLEKILBYMKAssociates, Inc.

MICHELLE R. KILBY is President, CEO and co-founder of MKAssociates, Inc.,“MKA”; a commercial real estate due diligence firm. She is responsible for daily decision making, as well as client relationship management, business development strategies, and contracting policies. As the leader of a North American, certified woman-owned company, she understands the great value of being involved at the highest level of an organization that promotes women and diversity.

One of the most recognizable buildings in the Baltimore skyline, 100 East Pratt is a Class-A office building that comprises 653,000 square feet and rises 28 stories above the city’s famed Inner Harbor.

Photo: APG Photography. ALTA survey and due diligence provided by MKA.


Michelle’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for excellence has cre-ated a solid platform for her role, which includes working with many of the top 10 Fortune 500 Companies. Her first priority is to ensure that MKA remains the premier due diligence services company in the commercial real estate industry. This success is acknowledged by con-tinued growth, various awards and national recognition. “Be vigilant, thorough, responsive and honest in all aspects of life and business,” she says. “Also, be a passionate team player and open oneself to new ideas and innovation.”

Currently serving as the 2016 President of CREW DC, she has been involved with the CREW organization for many years, serving in a variety of roles at the local and national levels. Having recently represented MKA as a member of the Host Committee for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Conference, she also serves in an advisory capacity on the WPEO Steering Committee, as well as the Corporate Leadership Committee for the Trust for the National Mall. Recipient of the CREW DC Annual Achievement Award, the CREW DC 2014 Dealmaking Award, a Women’s Enterprise (WE) Woman of the Year Award, and the Top 100 MBE’s Award in 2008, 2012 and 2014, Kilby says that her focus for 2016 is to “uphold the same high standard of practice and excellence in my approach to the leadership of CREW DC, as I strive to do in my own business practices and relationships. To

Capella is owned by ASB Real Estate Investments, and is the largest commercial office building in Minneapolis (56 stories).

ALTA survey and due diligence provided by MKA.

ALTA survey and due diligence provided by MKA.

Midlands One Professional Center located in Papillion, Nebraska

Photo courtesy of Mark Graves. ALTA Survey and due diligence services provided by MKA for Catholic Health Initiatives.

Avalon Norwalk is a resort style, multi-family project owned by AvalonBay Communities, Inc. located in Norwalk, CT.

Building a business in commercial real estate was not in my life plan, but after taking a transitional job doing business development and client relationship building at a firm that would ultimately become my competitor, I was hooked. It soon became apparent, however, that there was a lack of professionalism, quality of work and vital client service. Concluding that leadership set the tone, I knew that culture would never change. So after some discussion and soul searching, MKA was born. In January of this year, we celebrated 17 years of business and have enjoyed continued, steady growth since our inception by providing professional, uncompromising client service.

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Michelle Kilby serves on the following organizations:

• CREW Network• International Council of

Shopping Centers (ICSC)• American Land Title

Association (ALTA)• Women’s Business Enterprise

National Council (WBENC)• Women Presidents’ Education

Organization (WPEO)• National Association of Real

Estate Investment Trust (NAREIT)

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)


Testimonials

I began working with Michelle Kilby before she formed MKAssociates and have had the privilege of calling her a friend for over 20 years. Michelle has built her company “from the ground up” with hard work and perseverance.

Deborah GooDmanVice PresiDent – sales anD relationshiP manaGer - atlanta

national commercial serVicesFirst american

Connecting with Michelle Kilby and her firm MKAssociates was a wonderful find for Coca-Cola Refreshments. In the 17 years that we have worked with Michelle we have found her to be an involved and knowledgeable company president. Not only has Michelle built a company with a deep reliable knowledge base but she also has the demeanor and charm that helps foster long term business relationships.

celeste h. burrreal estate sPecialist, mcr

coca-cola reFreshments usa, inc.

I have worked on transactions with Michelle for over 5 years, having first met her at a CREW convention. Michelle is extremely responsive and accommodating. When working on complex multi-site properties, I appreciate how her company is able to use our property designations rather than having to fit them into some other system. She is friendly and generous with her time and advice and professional at all times.

isabelle PullisFiDelity national title insurance comPany

I have had the pleasure of doing business with Michelle for nearly twenty years. I was a customer on day one when she started her business in 1998. The firm is a reflection of Michelle, disciplined, responsive, professional. MKAssociates maintains a high standard of practice at all times.

cinDy J. heiDelVice PresiDent, national commercial counsel

FiDelity national title insurance comPanynational commercial serVices

Michelle and her team are exceptional diligence specialists. I have worked with MKAssociates on several transactions, including one transaction that involved 38 properties in 15 states.

elizabeth a. (“betsy”) KarminPartner

morris, manninG & martin, llP

I’ve known Michelle Kilby and MKAssociates for 10+ years through ordering their products for my company that I work for. Michelle and her employees at MKAssociates have always been very courteous and professional and willing to go the distance in order to provide their product in a timely manner. I have great respect for Michelle as a person and a business owner. I am honored to call her my friend.

cinDi sPearman oriX caPital marKets, llc

be disciplined, approachable, professional and passionate in everything that I do,” Kilby says.

She has also been recognized on sev-eral occasions for her participation in the “Done Deals” program with several major corporations through supplier diversity opportunities.

Further, Kilby has participated in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk, the Susan G. Komen 5K Run, Trust for the National Mall Work Day, DC Help the Homeless Walkathon, the Red Cross, and Thrive DC.

“My father was my greatest mentor. Due to his work ethic and strong moral com-pass, he instilled in me the importance of integrity and diligence in every aspect of my life; but to still have fun and enjoy the ride,” Kilby says. ALTA Survey and due diligence services provided by MKA.

Raven Golf Club, Arcis Equity’s premier 18-hole golf course located in Phoenix, AZ.


Maryjane KingAtelier MjK

Maryjane King, founder and principal of Atelier MjK, is a licensed architect who spent the last decade as a designer and project manager on cutting-edge large-scale institutional and residential buildings in Europe and the

United States. Her architecture firm, Atelier MjK, focuses on providing customized, sustainable designs to institutional, commercial, and multifamily clients. Maryjane previously worked at Behnisch Architeken in Stuttgart, Germany and Boston, where she led multiple aspects of the design and coordination of the new University of Balti-more (UB) Law Center. During construction of this fast-track project she represented UB and oversaw the design, procurement, and installation of additional design work.

Maryjane holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Yale University and a Bach-elor’s of Architecture from Pratt Institute. At Yale her capstone project was a finalist for the prestigious Feldman Award and was highlighted in Retrospecta. Earlier in her career, Pratt awarded her the American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Medal, the highest honor for a graduate of an accredited architecture program.

Maryjane has also worked as a designer at Pelli Clarke Pelli in New Haven and Gans & Jelacic in New York. She is a member of NCARB, AIA, and CREW and is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. In addition, she is an accredited LEED Green Associate and teaches Sustainable Design at George Washington University.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?I am passionate about giving back to my community and it is continuously something that I strive to do. I want to help others when I can including assisting low-income communities or tutoring my sixth grade students in Ward 1.

Who is your mentor or role model?I have been fortunate to have many excellent mentors in my life from professional to personal, and formal and informal. My most influential mentor has been my dad who taught me the value of hard work, the strength in ethical decisions, and the joy of running a small business.

What is your best advice? Never be afraid to roll up your sleeves and do the unglamorous task that no one else wants. If you’re the only one doing it, it will give you insight that others won’t have.


Jenna Kirkpatrick HowardLockton Companies

A s a Vice President and Producer at Lockton Companies, Jenna is a senior leader in the real estate practice of Lockton’s Washington, DC office, a group solely dedicated to work with real estate firms. By embedding themselves in their

client’s transactions, they deliver uncommon results in a most common business with the best advice on how to reduce costs/increase IRR, win more deals, and protect investments from loss.

Jenna’s background in Risk Finance prepared her to discuss total cost of risk, lead an-nual budget discussions, and assist clients in choosing the best risk finance mechanisms. Her experience includes master controlled insurance programs for large construction projects, creating complex property insurance programs for real estate portfolios, man-aging liability and workers compensation issues for hospitality clients, and consulting with developers on construction projects. Jenna co-authored a book for the American Bar Association titled Construction Insurance: A Guide for Attorneys and Other Professionals and regularly speaks on important trends in the insurance market.

Lockton has unmatched depth in real estate and construction brokerage expertise. Originally founded as a construction broker in 1966, the real estate and construction practice still represents our single largest area of specialization. Lockton serves more than 550 real estate/developer clients, 400 construction clients, and more than 100 engineering and/or architectural firms. With more than 65 offices in 17 countries, the dedicated team of 5,600+ Associates becomes partners with over 48,000 clients.

Away from business, you can find Jenna chasing her 1-year-old daughter or wearing the hat of Board Treasurer for 826DC, a nonprofit dedicated to working with students to develop their writing skills as well as helping teachers inspire their students to write.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?Focus on making my clients’ business better by providing good risk management advice. This priority does not change year-over-year but as I start my business planning for the year, I am reminded of the real purpose of my work.

Who is your mentor or role model?I have had several great mentors and role models throughout my career, sometimes a direct boss and other times a colleague with a specialized expertise. It is important to have a variety of individuals on your “personal board of directors” at all times. Different perspectives provide a wonderful sounding board for new ideas and initiatives.

What is your best advice? Work with people you enjoy and respect…that goes for clients and colleagues alike. It makes getting up every day and going to work a fulfilling experience!

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Phyllis LiebmanMRP Realty

For almost 20 years, Phyllis Liebman has managed the design and construction of commercial office building interiors in the DC metropolitan area. She graduated from SUNY Binghamton as an English major and moved to Washington DC with

no job or local connections, landing her first “real” job with a company that built strip shopping centers. Phyllis discovered she was passionate about commercial real estate and quickly expanded her skill set, learning AutoCAD to assist with space plans and par-ticipating in the review of tenant signage. This experience led her to pursue her Masters Degree in Interior Design at Mount Vernon College while continuing to work full time.

After honing her skills in increasingly more complex and responsible positions at both development and construction firms, Phyllis joined MRP Realty in 2012 to head up the construction management department. Her first large project was the repositioning of the iconic Air Rights Center in Bethesda, MD now known as Bethesda Crossing. The $25 million renovation of the three-building complex included major changes to the façade and windows, elevator cabs, building lobbies and entrances. Work was also completed in restrooms, common areas and the management office all while main-taining a remarkable 77.9% retention rate during the fast paced repositioning of the project. Tenant amenities were added to include a new state of the art fitness center in the North Tower and a conference center in the East Tower. Within 18 months of ownership, Bethesda Crossing was fully repositioned in the market and the East and West Towers sold. MRP still manages all three Towers.

Phyllis is a LEED Accredited Professional and a long-time member of the DC Chap-ter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). She has held various Board positions within the organization and will serve as President in 2017. She believes CREW has been a key part of building her network and refining her brand.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?To provide Construction Management services on all construction related projects within our commercial office portfolio and, in expanding our business, build our team. As Incoming President for CREW DC, I am working closely with CREW DC President Michelle Kilby and the 2016 Board to ensure CREW DC continues to be a powerful, influential and supportive association for women in the commercial real estate industry.

Who is your mentor or role model?A former boss of mine, Michael Hull at The Cafritz Company, had a way of putting people at ease often with a joke or story. I was especially impressed by his ability to bring people together and make them feel comfortable even if they had different opinions. He would say to each “you are right because of ... and you are right because of ...” He always found the positive in every situation.

What is your best advice? Take the time to figure out who you are and what you are passionate about. Then believe in yourself and create your reality.


A seasoned professional, Debbie Crouse has over 25 years of experience in real

property purchases, sales, leasing, licensing and financing transactions. Currently assisting attorneys in Sheppard

Mullin’s real estate practice group representing a private equity fund that invests in properties through sale-

leaseback transactions throughout the U.S., she also has extensive experience with coordination and closings of multi-property transactions, due diligence review and

title and survey review.

Sheppard Mullin

DEBBIE CROUSE


The level of success she has achieved has been built upon a unique blending of positions and projects in the real estate marketplace. She began her career as the Settlement Coordinator at Fairlington Villages, a 3,600-unit condominium conversion project just above Shirlington, where she was responsible for planning, scheduling and coordinating approximately 600 settlements per year. She then moved to B & C International (B&C) as a Project/Settlement Coor-dinator, where she became involved in converting apartment buildings into condominiums.

She was also responsible for arranging and admin-istrating the residential loan processing department for two major condominium conversions in Arling-ton, Virginia (George Mason Village and The Ridge House), and acted as liaison between the sales, con-struction and administration departments, while also working with purchasers and mortgage companies to coordinate loan processing through the settlement of each unit.

Once these projects were completed Crouse made

her next move to Shannon & Luchs (now known as Weichert Realtors), as Manager of the DC Loan Pro-cessing Department, and responsible for overseeing the administration, coordination and documentation of settlements for fifteen residential condominium projects (both new construction and conversions) in the District of Columbia, until she began work-ing at The Winkler Companies, where she served as the Development Coordinator and Assistant to the Director of Commercial Leasing.

But she didn’t stop there. Crouse soon became the Assistant to the Vice President of Development, where she interacted with the Commercial Leasing Director to coordinate build-out schedules with ar-chitect/space planners, construction companies and new tenants for spaces in major office buildings under development. She then became Assistant Vice Presi-dent of Commercial Loan Administration for the B. F. Saul Company (“Saul”), where her responsibilities included processing and coordinating all commer-cial loans, from loan commitment to closing, which

Fourth from the left, Crouse received the CREW DC Esprit de Corps Award in October, 2014.


Pike & Rose

entailed negotiating loan documents with extensive interaction with legal counsel representing both lenders and borrowers, and reviewing and coordinating of due diligence and underwrit-ing materials, while overseeing loans for servicing and portfolio management.

After the Commercial Loan Division of Saul was sold, Crouse became a Real Estate Legal Assistant at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, working with alongside the attorneys in the Real Estate Practice Group, which included interaction with clients and opposing counsel, analyzing, drafting and reviewing commercial real estate purchase and sale agreements, leases, financing docu-mentation, general corporate documentation and coordinating and conducting commercial closings.

Her success at that firm led to her hiring as a Real Estate Spe-cialist with the General Business, Real Estate Practice Group of Arent Fox LLP, where she assisted with commercial real estate loan and acquisition transactions; collected and reviewed under-writing due diligence for large financing transactions, including real estate title commitments and abstracts, surveys and corpo-rate organizational documentation; prepared closing checklists and updated checklists as appropriate; drafted loan documents and various release documents; reviewed and abstracted com-

Hillary Clinton and Crouse at 2014 CREW Network Convention in Miami, FL, where Clinton was a keynote speaker.

mercial leases, coordinated and conducted settlements; prepared closing transcripts and loan document binders and tracked post-closing matters. Some of the transactions she is most proud of during her tenure at Arent Fox were her participation in the sale of a 22 – Hotel Portfolio, and an acquisition of a 100 – hotel portfolio. Crouse was instrumental by keeping a large team of attorneys and legal assistants informed about the status of each property and documentation needed, meeting with the Partner in charge daily to also discuss issues of the day, and to prepare for what was coming next.

Then moving on to accept a position with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP in 2012 as a Real Estate Specialist, Crouse initially focused on teaching the first year associates all about real estate. “I had two great first year male associates to work with and I am pretty sure they learned a lot, especially about reviewing title and survey,” Crouse recalls. “Still,” Crouse continues, “Working at Sheppard has been slightly different from the other law firms where I have worked. Sheppard is not the headquarters, it is one office of 15. Our real estate group in DC is small in comparison to where I have worked previously, but we all work together as a team. We are given challenging projects, and I am constantly reminded of the demands of the job, but when the transaction closes and the client is happy, we all feel the gratification of a job well done.”

A sampling of the sale-leaseback and financing transactions Crouse worked on while at Sheppard Mullin have included three warehouse distribution centers, two healthcare facilities, two separate eight-property portfolios, a 10-property portfolio, and an 18-property industrial distribution facilities transaction lo-cated in the U.S. Canada, U.K. and Germany.


Pike & Rose

DEBBIE CROUSE & CREW DCHaving either chaired or been a member of almost every CREW DC committee, as well as on its Executive Committee of CREW, Crouse was also the recipient of the “Member of the Year” Award in 1998.

In 2011, Crouse Co-Chaired the Sponsorship Committee for the National Convention Committee, (Chaired by Wendy White), hosted by CREW DC and held at National Harbor. That year, a record was set for the most sponsorship dollars obtained for any national convention to date.

From 2012 – 2016, Crouse served as the Chair of the CREW DC Sponsorship Committee, where she was successful in increasing the organization’s sponsorship dollars by 300%. “Thanks to a great committee working with me to contact every company that had a member in CREW to ask them to consider sponsorship, my leadership role became extremely important to me and the impact it had on the Chapter. We not only increased our sponsorship base, but also increased our membership to over 650 members,” Crouse says. In 2014, Crouse received CREW DC’s Esprit De Corps award, as an acknowledgement, in part, for her leadership efforts with the Sponsorship Committee.

“CREW DC is a wonderful organization. We now have a mentorship program, a scholarship program, a member-only spring golf outing, an “over the top” awards program in the fall and many other outstanding member-only events to promote the advancement of women in real estate. I am very proud of being a long standing member of CREW DC and encourage all women of every age to join CREW DC. The opportunities to do business with other women are enormous, and this organization offers many leadership roles along with networking with other women in the real estate community. As you can tell, I am very passionate about the vision and mission of CREW DC, since I believe I have benefited in many ways through my involvement. Through all of my career experiences, which have helped to mold me to be who I am today, I also credit my passion and involvement in CREW DC for the past 30 plus years, which has given me the opportunity to network and make friends that I may not have had met. These friendships have been long-lasting and have been rewarding beyond words,” Crouse says.

In summation, Crouse’s favorite quote speaks volumes about her dedication and success in the real estate industry:“We make a living by what we get – but we make a life by what we give.”

-Winston Churchill

Member/Affiliations• Licensed Real Estate Agent in the

Commonwealth of Virginia• Vice President of The Crouse Real

Estate Group • Member of the Northern Virginia Board

of Realtors• Chair of CREW DC Sponsorship Committee

from 2012 – 2016 • Executive Committee of CREW DC• Corporate Committee – The Trust for the

National Mall


Testimonials

Through her CREW leadership roles, Debbie has continuously contributed to enhancing the social and educational environment of our industry, and provided valued mentorships to many young future leaders. Her ability to combine professional successes with civic and charitable contributions are the hallmarks of Debbie’s history in our community and is truly reflective of a life very well lived.

Raymond a. Ritcheyexecutive vice PResident – national diRectoR of

acquisitions & develoPment | executive managementBoston PRoPeRties

Debbie’s leadership skills are a testament to the success of CREW DC and ability to continually, year over year, raise funds well in excess of our target goals.. Our membership counts have exploded exponentially, closely tied to Debbie’s efforts to educate our members and community about the importance of supporting CREW.

Wendy feldman Block senioR managing diRectoR

savills studley

Debbie is the consummate real estate professional. She understands that relationships in the commercial real estate community long outlast one deal, and therefore we need to work together in a collaborative and collegial way because we will inevitably be doing business with each other again someday.

Wendelin a. WhitechaiR of the dc Real estate PRactice gRouP

co-managing PaRtneR of mmm’s dc officemoRRis, manning & maRtin, llP

I know Debbie has worked tirelessly on behalf of CREW over the years, with the overall goal of increasing networking opportunities for women in commercial real estate, and especially mentoring young women just entering the field. She is truly a role model for the advancement of women in the DC real estate circles.

mickie simPsonassociate BRokeR

ms Real estate | mBa | gReen designationttR sotheBy’s inteRnational Realty

Above all, Debbie has a passion for people that is both infectious and inspiring. It transmits to everyone she deals with. I’ve seen this clearly on display in her longstanding, active involvement in DC CREW - serving on or chairing committees and going out of her way to encourage, mentor and celebrate other women and promote their success.

maRilyn BuRRoughsPRinciPal, neW leaf collaBoRative aRchitectuRe & design;

Past PResident and cuRRent advisoRy council memBeR, cReW dc

It’s rare that you come across a business colleague who also becomes a mentor and friend. Deb’s longstanding experience in commercial real estate is admired by many and she has continued to share and give back to the community throughout her career. I look to Deb for professional and personal advice and I admire the selflessness she shares with others.

susan goldsteindiRectoR of Business develoPment

WaRneR constRuction consultants

When she says she is going to do something---anything---she gets it done on time and goes above and beyond what’s required. More importantly, Debbie is the kindest, most generous person I know—she would do anything to help anybody. Ironically, I never actually joined her committee, but I’ve been on it for at least five years because anything that Debbie asks me to do—I’m all in!

Ruth Jansson, cid, iida, leed aPPRinciPal, diRectoR of inteRioRs

leo a. daly

Having worked with Debbie when I was a partner at Arent Fox, I was delighted to have the good fortune to lure her away to join us at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, my current firm. Debbie has an amazing breadth of experience and has built an extraordinary network of contacts in the D.C. real estate community over her career. That said, the most remarkable thing about Debbie is her genuine nature, positive outlook and overall warm and caring personality.

michele WilliamsshePPaRd mullin RichteR & hamPton

Everyone who knows Debbie thinks of her as someone who tackles an assignment, and then gets it done. As her career has evolved, and she learned new skills, she continues to play a valuable role in real estate finance and other transactions. Debbie is one of my all time favorite people in the industry.

fRed kleindla PiPeR llP (us)

PaRtneR and head of the dc Real estate gRouP


Amy NavabiThe JBG Companies

Amy Navabi is a Construction Manager with The JBG Companies, a world-class investor, owner, developer and manager of real estate properties in the Washington Metropolitan Area for more than 50 years. She has been in the

built environment industry over 20 years with experience in the practice of architecture and construction for commercial, government, residential and transit oriented mixed use development projects. At JBG alone, she has managed the construction of over 3.5 million square feet amounting to a quarter of a billion dollars. Prior to joining The JBG Companies in 2003, Ms. Navabi was with HITT Contracting and Brennen Beer Gorman Architects. Notable projects while at The JBG Companies include Michael Graves’ Federal Department of Transportation buildings and Sir Richard Rogers’ 300 New Jersey Avenue project. She stays active with Washington Building Congress, is the Treasurer of the Professional Women in Construction and is also a Board Member. Ms. Navabi has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the College of Architecture at the University of Arizona.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?My number one priority for 2016 is to continue to work on my confidence. Every day we learn new things that we didn’t know the day before. Registering those new experiences allows me to self-reflect and recognize what I bring to the table. Remem-ber, sometimes you are the only person in the room who knows the most about the subject. Stand tall.

Who is your mentor or role model?I have two professional role models: Linda Sanders and Paul Elias. Linda was my Structures and Design Studio professor at The College of Architecture and even though my time with her was only 4 years and more than 20 years ago, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her. She encouraged me, supported me and became a close friend. The biggest compliment Linda ever gave me was ask me to write her letter of recommendation for her nomination of the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education Award; I knew then truly how much she respected me. Paul Elias is the Director of Construction at JBG and conversely, he has been in my life for nearly a quarter of it. From the day we met, I have appreciated his ability to “zoom in and zoom out” when problem solving. He has taught me how to build, be fair, provide limits and have fun all at the same time.

What is your best advice? You have to learn to manage things “your way.” It may take time to figure it out but once you begin to understand your relationships and your boundaries, you will feel more comfortable in your own skin and take ownership of your decisions, pursuits and passions.

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s the Executive Vice President and Managing Director for the Mixed-Use Division at Federal Realty Investment Trust, Dawn Becker is responsible for strategy and day-to-day activities of the Trust’s mixed-use portfolio. She also serves as The Trust’s General Counsel, responsible for overseeing all of the company’s legal work. Dawn’s focus this year is on “Execution, Execution and Execution” on her projects and for her team.

Dawn BeckerFederal Realty Investment Trust

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“Just this year, we have more than $500 million of ground-up development underway at two of our mixed-use projects – Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts (just outside of Boston) and Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland,” she says. “We delivered the first phases of both of those projects in 2014 and, given their success, immediately got under-way with a second phase at both.” The second phases at both projects are scheduled to start delivering in 2017, so 2016 is “all about staying on track to be sure we deliver well-leased projects on time and on bud-get,” Becker adds. “It’s critical that we continue to move our other projects forward as well so that as we deliver our second phases of Assembly Row and Pike & Rose in 2017, we’re ready to launch more proj-ects representing additional investment well north of $100 million.”

Looking back upon her career, Becker attributes much of her success and leadership at Federal Realty to early mentors in her life. “I had two mentors. One was my first high school softball coach. I grew up in a football and wrestling-crazy town with those sports dominating the press and then there was a woman in the mid 1970’s who was all over the sports pages for creating some of the most successful girls high school sports teams in the area. I was more than a bit in awe when she chose me for the high school softball team and gave me the opportunity to start as a freshman. She provided the foundation for me to understand how to be successful at something you love, work as part of a team and value the importance of academics along with athletics.” Becker’s second role model, a female attorney she had the privilege of working with early in her career, taught her to be strong and confident without being overpowering. “She had a way of dealing with people that showed her confidence but without being perceived as ‘bitchy’, which was still part of the stereotype for strong wom-

en in the late 1980s. Even though we often were the only women in the room, she commanded respect from everyone, men and women alike. Seeing her quiet, self-confidence was probably the first time I saw a way to be effective in the business world,” Becker recounts.

Dawn Becker’s effectiveness is perhaps best dem-onstrated through the variety of notable and success-ful projects she has been involved in over her nearly 20 years at Federal Realty.

CONGRESSIONAL PLAZACongressional Plaza, a 325,000 sq. ft. property in

Rockville, Maryland, has been transformed over the past four decades to meet the needs of the surround-ing community. “This center has always been one of the top shopping des tinations in the Rockville mar-ket because we believe real estate is a local business and must evolve as the community evolves”, Dawn explained. Located across from the Twinbrook Metro station, it is a great example of the Trust’s out-of-the-box think ing. “What was once a bowling alley turned into office space for our corporate headquarters in the late 90s and will again adapt to bring a 40,000 sq. ft. SAKS OFF 5TH to the market this fall”. This flexibility, ability to drive value and thinking is driven and inspired by Dawn and many of the executive team leading Federal Realty. Today, Federal Realty is mak-ing significant capital improvements to expand the connectivity between the retail, offices and residences – from new walkways and landscap ing, facade and sig-nage improvements, a new outdoor café seating area and new retail like Beer and Wine Cellar and Chop’t. These improvements will be topped off with the ad-dition of The Stories, 48 inspired, luxury apartments focused on the overall well-being of its residents and complementing Crest, a 146 unit apartment commu-nity already located at Congressional Plaza.Congressional Plaza,

Rockville MD

Clockwise: Bethesda Row, Bethesda MD; Pike & Rose, North Bethesda MD


Bethesda Row.

PIKE & ROSELocated in the heart of affluent Montgomery County, Maryland on Rockville Pike, Pike & Rose is the first new neighborhood in the Pike District. Today, Pike & Rose includes 160,000 square feet of retail with iconic tenants such as iPic Theater and Summer House restaurant, 80,000 sq. ft of fully leased office space, 493 residential units and 1,066 parking spaces with the White Flint Metro station just a short two-minute walk from the heart of the new neighborhood. The second phase of Pike & Rose is already underway and will add 190,000 additional square feet of retail with such notable tenants as REI, Porsche and Pinstripes, 272 more apartments, a half-acre park and 104 for-sale condominiums above a 177-room boutique hotel. “Pike & Rose is unlike anything on Rockville Pike today. In many ways it is building the model for what will come as The Pike District’s other development sites begin construction,” Dawn explained. “It’s mix of uses, location, proximity to Metro, tenant strength and design resonate with what people are looking for today – a real environment driven experience and destination that feels more personal and allows us all to be more productive”.

Pike & Rose

Bethesda Row, Bethesda MD


Pike & Rose

BETHESDA ROWBethesda Row, located in Bethesda, Montgomery County, Mary-land is Federal Realty’s first urban mixed-use property. The property was first acquired in 1993 and is where Federal Realty has mastered the art of creating places where people want to live, work and play. “We have always looked at Bethesda Row as our laboratory of sorts, allowing us to incubate new tenants in a first-to-market opportunity, understand consumer behavior, and sharpen our approach to merchandising. We even piloted a new parking technology there that we have now adopted in some of our newer mixed-use properties,” Dawn said. “Bethesda Row includes more than 350,000 square feet of retail space, 180,000 square feet of office space, 180 apartments and outdoor event space on the pedestrian walkway known as Bethesda Lane. This was the first project of its kind in the Bethesda market and was a significant impetus in the changes downtown Bethesda has experienced over the past decade. We are extremely proud of the relationships and results we have built there”.


Pike & Rose, North Bethesda MD

Testimonials

“It’s been my privilege to work with Dawn for 11 years. She has incredible passion for what she does and her commitment to Federal is undeniable as evidenced by the tremendous success and growth her organization has experienced under her leadership. It’s obvious that it takes an unbelievable amount of hard work to achieve her results, yet she makes it seem effortless. She a consummate professional, wearing multiple corporate hats, and has a compelling leadership style that inspires her team and me.”

Karen HigHlanderVice President, Willis toWers Watson

“Dawn Becker used to work for me, many years ago as an associate at Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge. Now I work for Dawn, as outside counsel to Federal Realty. I hope that when Dawn worked for me she learned at least a fraction as much from me as I have learned working for her. There is no one I know, particularly no reformed lawyer, who so well balances overall business considerations and goals with smaller points and technical issues. She remains laser focused on the big picture. And she is fair and courteous to everyone she deals with -- from employees inside her company to partners in transactions. Dawn is one of the smartest, and nicest, people I know. Dawn deserves the success she has achieved. You could not have picked a more deserving recipient of this honor.”

Wendy WHiteMorris, Manning & Martin, llP

One piece of advice Becker has for people new to the working world is that “as you create your business persona, watch and learn from as many people as pos-sible. If you try to emulate what someone else does that isn’t compatible with the core essence of who you are and what you believe, you’re setting yourself up to be unhappy and you probably won’t be as successful over the long-term. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and ultimately what will make you successful is adapting what you learn from others to work for your style and who you are,” she continues. “Take those things you see from successful people that you like and don’t like and make them work for you.”


Katie ChowdhryPNC Real Estate Banking

Katie Chowdhry is currently a VP, Relationship Manager with PNC Real Estate Banking in Washington, DC. She first began working for PNC in 2008 as an underwriting intern while in graduate school at George Washington University.

She was hired into a full-time role upon graduation in 2009 and continued to work as an underwriter until 2013 when she took on the Relationship Manager role within the group. In September 2015, Ms. Chowdhry was asked to cover all REIT clients within PNC’s DC portfolio, as DC has one of the largest REIT concentrations in the country and PNC felt that its DC REIT clients would benefit from a dedicated banker. Katie’s new role has proved challenging and rewarding, and has opened the door for her to hone a new skill set in strategic corporate finance.

Prior to moving to DC to obtain her MBA from George Washington, Katie worked for three years with CB Richard Ellis’s Investment Sales group in Detroit, Michigan. At CBRE, she advised clients on their portfolios and acquisition/disposition strategies and marketed commercial assets for sale throughout the midwest.

Since her first job out of college with CBRE, Katie has known that commercial real estate is where she was meant to work. Real estate has always been appealing as a tangible subset of finance, and the opportunities and paths that one’s career can take in this industry are endless.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?My first priority for 2016 is to ensure I achieve good balance in my life. My new role with PNC of handling our REIT clients is exciting and challenging and very busy! When combined with my involvement in CREW and GW as well a family at home, it’s more important than ever to separate my roles, take one thing at a time and leave enough downtime. If I do that, I can give my all to each task at hand and make sure I am successful in each aspect of my life.

Who is your mentor or role model?My mentor is Leslie Ludwig from The JBG Companies. I knew of her through CREW and met her through PNC, and asked if she would meet with me to talk about careers and the goals I have set for myself. Leslie is a former banker so we connected on that level among others. We try to meet quarterly or semi-annually and I am so grateful for the time she has taken with me and encouragement she has given me. She was the first female partner at JBG and has had a huge impact on the company’s structure and direction. Leslie is dynamic and driven and has taught me that you have to go after what you want and have the confidence in yourself and your abilities to get it. If you don’t make your goals known, they are that much harder to achieve.

What is your best advice? My best advice is to try not to take yourself too seriously. You should always work your hardest and strive to do a great job so that you can be proud of your efforts. But if something doesn’t work out the way you planned or you happen to make a mistake, try not to get too down on yourself and feed into that negativity. There is always an opportunity to right the wrong and there is always a new day ahead.


Christa DommersSeyfarth Shaw LLP

Christa Dommers is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group of Seyfarth Shaw LLP with nearly 20 years of experience in commercial real estate, including structuring, financing, development, leasing, and acquisition and disposition

of real estate. Christa has extensive experience with commercial leasing and has been involved in the leasing of over 4 million square feet of space, representing both land-lords and tenants in office, retail and industrial applications, locally and nationally. Her representation includes Fortune 500 companies and family-owned businesses, including in the defense technology industry, on leases including build-to-suit leases, warehouses, secured compartmentalized information facilities, hangars and office leases, and on acquisitions, dispositions, easements, lease disputes, brokerage agree-ments, merger activities, and real estate matters that arise due to environmental issues. She has worked on leases of LEED-certified buildings and has given presentations on “green” lease issues.

Christa represents borrowers and lenders in connection with structuring and closing construction, mezzanine and permanent loans, including syndications and participa-tions. She has also been involved in the resolution of defaulted loans and distressed assets. Christa also works with developers, investors and corporate real estate depart-ments to further their interests with the acquisition and disposition of real estate. Her experience includes ground leases, structuring, joint ventures, 1031 exchanges, sale-leasebacks, and portfolio acquisition and disposition of raw land, office build-ings, warehouse/industrial, multi-family portfolio, retail strip centers and mixed-use developments. Christa has had recent success in obtaining economic incentives from state, county and local agencies as part of site selection activities, relocations and other commercial development.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?On the home front, spend time with my twins before they go off to college in September. On the work front, g row the number of economic incentives transactions that I handle this year.

Who is your mentor or role model?I have had the fortune to have had 3 strong role models since becoming an attorney. In Connecticut (before I moved to the DC area), John Mallin and Jane Warren gave me the respect and encouragement to become a good attorney. Since I came to DC, Ron Gart has provided me with networking skills and support to make partner and succeed in my career.

What is your best advice? Love what you do (for work), you spend a lot of hours doing it. Make time for family, because that should be why you are doing it.


Jane GustafsonSTUDIOS Architecture

Jane Gustafson brings over 37 years of exceptionally varied experience to her work in commercial interiors, design, construction, project management and strategic planning. She has significant experience in the planning and management of

large scale projects both in the public and private sector. Currently she is an Associate Principal with STUDIOS Architecture in Washington, DC and is an integral member of the GSA Workplace Strategy consultant group, and directs private sector projects.

Ms. Gustafson’s workplace analysis and unique cross industry experience in design and construction has brought a distinct perspective to federal projects. The GSA National Headquarters prototype office concept was recognized by CoreNet for office innova-tion. The program, strategic plan and concept design for the USDA Forest Service Headquarters in the 135 year old Yates Building created a modern workplace and a new standard for historic buildings.

In the early 90’s Ms. Gustafson joined the URS Corporation in Washington, DC as the Interior Department Manager leading a broad range of successful projects over an 11 year period. The 1.5 million sq. ft. Pentagon basement and mezzanine renovation allowing for the co-location of all military services command and operation centers on one floor. URS in collaboration with Shalom Baranes Associates, PC managed the renovation of the Pittsburgh Federal Courthouse and the project received a GSA Design Excellence Award. The Federal Reserve Board, executive dining facility, and programming and renovation projects through the Architect of the Capitol for the Rayburn House Of-fice Building, Cannon House Office Building, Ford Office Building, and the Longworth Building required the integration of all disciplines.

Ms. Gustafson also worked in New York City for outstanding firms including Gensler and HOK, serving as the interior project director for the Mobil Corporation Headquar-ters two phase relocation to Fairfax, VA. She was a Vice President at the Chase Manhattan Bank and Interior Manager for the 1.8 million sq. ft. Chase MetroTech project.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?Explore untapped markets for business opportunities

Who is your mentor or role model?Margo Grant, Vice Chairman at Gensler, was a role model for both her design and leadership capabilities.

What is your best advice? It’s your delivery that counts and you are only as good as your last project- don’t rest on past successes.

Christa DommersSeyfarth Shaw LLP


KAREN PENAFIEL

BOMA International

Having joined the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International in December, 1989, Karen Penafiel serves as vice president of the advocacy, codes and standards division of the association. In this capacity, she leads BOMA’s federal and state advocacy programs and oversees BOMA’s model building codes and voluntary standards efforts. Further, as the association’s chief lobbyist, she works with Congress and the federal agencies on a wide range of issues affecting the commercial real estate industry.


Taking The LeadFor the past decade, Penafiel has taken the lead on energy and sustainability issues for BOMA, and has authored BOMA International’s two guidance documents on electricity deregulation. Leading the Association’s market transformation efforts and helping to develop BOMA’s green lease guides, she is dedicated to continually pushing BOMA’s sustainability initiatives forward.

“2015 was a great year for the commercial real estate industry from a public policy standpoint and I would like to continue that momentum as we move into the elec-tions this fall, in what could turn out to be a defining year for both political parties,” Penafiel says. “We need public servants who will put the needs of the country first and who are willing to reach across the aisle to ensure we keep moving forward. With evolving technologies, there are several “game changers” on the horizon and we have the power to transform the built environment.”

Top: Richard McClure, BOMA/Philadelphia; Penafiel; Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vermont); and Jason Todd attend BOMA International’s National Issues Conference.

Bottom Left: Penafiel, Jay Leno, and James Winlack catch up at the 2015 BOMA International Conference & Expo.

Bottom Right: Karen Penafiel received an award for her 26 years of service to the industry at BOMA’s 2016 Winter Business Meeting.

Testimonials

Karen has been with Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) since before I met her 10 years ago. As the lead BOMA staffer on advocacy, codes and standards, she has done a tremendous job of keeping her finger on the pulse of all things happening in real estate. Although she has never personally managed commercial buildings before, she quickly gains an understanding of how legislative and code issues can affect property operations and value. She knows many people on ‘the hill’, has written the testimony spoken by the BOMA officers and personally presented and testified before state congress . Karen forges the pathway to develop well utilized industry standards, such as the internationally known Floor Measurement Standard. Aside from her intellectual accolades, on a personal level, she is a caring mother and a fun friend.

Becky B. Hanner, cPM, rPa, BOMa FellOw, leeD Green assOciate

seniOr Vice PresiDentcUsHMan & wakeFielD

Karen is truly an expert in representing the interests of the commercial real estate industry and has really been a beacon for rational, principled advocacy. She is not just a policy wonk, but also builds relationships within the political framework with legislators, real estate owners and operators, as well as service provider partners to the real estate industry. She is bright, committed, fun and a wonderful leader and friend to many.

Brenna s. walraVen, rPa, cPM, BOMa FellOwPresiDent anD FOUnDer

cOrPOrate sUstainaBility strateGies, inc.

Karen has been a valued advocacy partner of the commercial real estate industry for many years. I have personally worked alongside Karen on many specific policy issues facing our industry in combination with BOMA’s National representation. Her ability to analyze, strategize and implement policy statements with appropriate analysis, strategic planning and implementation of the policies of change has been invaluable to the commercial real estate industry.

sanDra l. BOyle, cPM, leeD aP

seniOr ManaGinG DirectOrAsset services – NortherN cAliforNiA

Karen’s dedication to the betterment of the commercial real estate industry has led to a stronger, more informed and more productive industry. Throughout her career, she has been a tireless force advocating for the benefit of the industry and driving knowledge into the hands of real estate decision makers across the country. Karen’s commitment matched with her profound capabilities have made her a role model and mentor to young real estate professional women across the country. Our industry is fortunate to have a leader like Karen who drives real progress in meaningful ways every day.

Diane VrkicceO

wayPOint


Penafiel attributes a portion of her suc-cess to her former boss, Ron Burton, who, she says, “taught me to compromise and ne-gotiate with equal respect for my allies and my adversaries, and that a win-win is much better in the long run than being on the win-ning side of a win-lose outcome. “He also showed me,” she continues, “that you don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room to be heard. As a career advocate, I don’t often come across people who truly embody those qualities. When Ron passed away just over a year ago, I was blown away by the outpour-ing from all the people whose lives he had touched.”

Her best advice to younger women enter-ing the field?

“Find your passion,” Penafiel says. Penafiel address BOMA International’s Board of Governors at the 2015 BOMA International Conference & Expo.


TOP MENTOR

Brandice SchaeferGilbane Building Company

Brandy, a 22-year veteran of the commercial construction industry in Washington DC, has served in many different roles throughout her career. She began as a construction assistant and was quickly promoted to assistant project manager

before eventually becoming one of the first women at a previous employer to be pro-moted to project manager. After earning her position as director of operations with a firm prior to joining Gilbane, she became the highest ranking female in operations within the company. Now a senior manager of business development at Gilbane Building Company, Brandy develops client relationships and ensures the core values align between firms on projects she pursues. She knows that providing the right team for the right project is one of the keys to success. Brandy is widely recognized as a leader in the ‘business of the business’ – both in the understanding and actions required to ensure that construc-tion projects are not just concrete and steel, but include relationships, schedules, costs, dedication, communication and, most of all, teamwork. She has vast experience in the industry ranging from small interior projects through the development and construc-tion of buildings for a new office park, and is highly skilled in the technical details of secure facilities while providing an exceptional level of attention to detail on all of her projects. Brandy is passionate about mentoring the next generation of construc tion industry leaders, and sees herself as being able to provide a dual mentoring role both in her guidance on technical aspects of construction, as well as her guidance on juggling work and raising a family, all within the construction industry. Her philosophy is, ‘Don’t accept the easy position throughout your career. You can handle that and much more, even while successfully raising a family.’ As you can see, she is speaking from experience.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?Complete my Master’s degree from Georgetown University in May and to effectively utilize the knowledge gained to further promote Gilbane as a leader in the Washington DC metro area. On a personal note, my goal is to have an impact on the development and confidence of other women in the real estate industry.

Who is your mentor or role model?Several people have had a significant impact on my career, but one stand-out individual is Gary Ball. He was the first real boss I had that provided real guidance and advice and had an interest in someone’s career other than his own. He took the time to teach me vast technical knowledge but also led by example of how to be a good person while I succeeded throughout my career. He genuinely cares about the well-being and career advancement of those around him.

What is your best advice? Be yourself. Persevere through the hard times, which will undoubtedly come. You will never be able to please everyone, so always be true to your values and ethics, ignore the doubters, and you will always succeed.


TOP MENTOR

TOP MENTOR

Elizabeth J. HeiderSkansa

As Chief Sustainability Officer, Beth translates Skanska’s commitment to sus-tainability into action while serving on Skanska USA’s Management Team. She supports Skanska’s four US business units: Building, Civil and Commercial,

Development and Infrastructure Development. Her career encompasses all phases of design and construction as architect, construction manager and sustainability leader. She has been invited to present at over 200 international conferences focusing on the nexus of design, sustainability and good business. Heider served for six years on USGBC’s national Board of Directors which she chaired in 2012. She is widely recog-nized for her leadership in building more sustainably, most recently by Green Building & Design as one of the Ten Most Powerful Women in Sustainability. In 2015, she was elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects joining an elite few women to achieve this honor. She serves on the Envision Review Board and the Board of Trustees for Excel Academy, the first all-girl charter school in the District of Columbia.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?To execute Skanska USA’s Sustainability Work Plan which helps set the course for delivering on our 2020 Business Plan. One aspect of the plan that promises to deliver great value to our customers and advance our own Journey to Deep Green is a program we are developing with USGBC. It will help our customers see how their projects stack up against other similar projects in the same region. Knowing aspects of a project that lead, lag or are par with the market will help our teams explore solutions that will deliver better, more sustainable projects.

Who is your mentor or role model?I have been really lucky to work for exceptional companies and extraordinary bosses. All men, I might add! I can’t pick one, so I’ll give you two: Our former CEO, Mike McNally, who was a fearless champion for sustainability when it really mattered, provided quiet and almost-Confucius like pointers when I was perplexed and who opened the door for me to the C-suite. The other role model is my maternal grandmother, who was ferociously smart. A brilliant musician, investor and engineer of my grandfather’s career, she would have been a formidable corporate leader had she been born a hundred years later.

What is your best advice? Work hard, be curious, try not to compare yourself to others or take things personally, keep learning, have a working knowl-edge of business, even if you don’t have an MBA and, importantly, find something bigger than you that you love to do and then do it in the very best company you can find or can build.


Elizabeth J. HeiderSkansa

Suman Sorg, FAIA DLR Group | Sorg

An internationally-renowned designer and a leading voice for design in her com-munity, Suman Sorg founded her firm, Sorg Architects, in 1986. Under her leadership, the firm amassed an extensive portfolio of mixed-use, residential,

commercial, educational, institutional, and civic projects, both domestically and around the globe.

Emphasizing simplicity and clarity of design, her vision is that each design becomes a powerful tool for simultaneously communicating history and ideas and enhancing the human experience. As such, her approach focuses on environments, cultures, and contexts, to produce elegant design solutions. Suman believes that when a building serves its function and the people who inhabit it, the project is successful in reflecting its human purpose.

Suman is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, sits on the Board of Trust-ees for the National Building Museum, and is also on the Board of Directors for the DC Building Industry Association. She is a Peer Reviewer for the General Services Administration Design Excellence Program and is also a member of the Lambda Alpha International Honor Society.

Merging with DLR Group in 2015, Sorg Architects now operates as DLR Group | Sorg. The firm captures a broader reach for its award-winning designs through 23 global loca-tions and the ability to provide clients with integrated planning, engineering, interiors, and energy services.

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What is your #1 priority for 2016?With the recent merger of my firm, Sorg Architects, with DLR Group, one of my goals in 2016 is to do my part in solidifying a successful collaboration. Moreover, as DLR Group | Sorg, we now have an expanded portfolio with expertise across a host of sectors that complement my design interests and portfolio. I will welcome opportunities to delve into new project types, and I look forward to working to continue to raise the bar in design for DLR Group. With greater resources comes the opportunity to greatly impact our region, clients, and communities. I’m excited to see how 2016 unfolds.

Who is your mentor or role model?I’ve worked with many people throughout the course of my career who have mentored me a great deal. But at the forefront of these individuals will always be my father – who pushed me to realize my greatest potential and encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity that came my way.

What is your best advice? My best advice is to always stick with it and see each one of your efforts through, even if you don’t see any progress immediately. Each undertaking, whether it’s personal or professional, takes time and patience…there really aren’t any shortcuts in life!


Sokol Media, LLC

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2 Dawn Becker - Federal Realty Investment TrustDawn’s focus this year is on three things - Execution, Execution, and Execution

10 Karen Penafiel - BOMA InternationalCome learn about how this leading organization’s chief lobbyist ‘Gets Things Done’.

2A Michelle Kilby - MKAssociatesMichelle’s passion for excellence has not only contributed to her success as an entrepreneur, but also as the 2016 President of CREW DC.

8A Debbie Crouse - Sheppard MullinDebbie’s experience as a consummate networker has not only contributed to her own professional success, but also to the many organizations she serves.

7 TOP WOMEN IN DC REAL ESTATE

Contents

NOT JUST A WOMEN’S ISSUE

From the initial look of things, the magazine you are now holding in your hands appears to be only about women.

I assure you, it is not.Yes, the issue only profiles women, each an accomplished professional in her

area of expertise.Yes, the issue also profiles women who are serving as outstanding mentors to

other women in their fields.And, yes, many of these honorees are also members of organizations primarily

devoted to empowering other women.Still, this issue is not only about women.Just as we have been doing in the NYC real estate industry for the past 15

years, this first annual magazine honoring Washington, D.C.’s outstanding women of achievement is being launched not only to pay tribute to women who are pioneering examples of success, but also to create a blueprint for what is possible when women and men work together, and are equally represented at all levels. Research studies increasingly show that firms, regardless of industry, achieve higher levels of success when gender diversity and inclusion becomes a priority.

So here’s to all of the women, men and firms that are already benefitting, as well as to all those who will hopefully come onboard so that they, too, can continue to remain competitive in an increasingly diverse industry.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

Lori Sokol, Ph.D.Founder & Editorial Director

Please address all comments/questions to [email protected]

Publisher’s Page

7 Katie Chowdhry8 Christa Dommers9 Jane Gustafson13 Brandice Schaefer 14 Elizabeth Heider

15 Suman Sorg 5A MaryJane King6A Jenna Howard 7A Phyllis Liebman13A Amy Navabi

A toast to Dawn Becker for being honored as one of the “Top Women to Watch in Real Estate 2016.”

For more than two decades, Dawn has been at the heart of everything we

do at Federal Realty—from overseeing our team, to day-to-day activities at

our properties and mixed-use developments, to adding her legal perspective

to all endeavors. We’re proud and grateful for her dedication to making

Federal Realty and our communities such a sustainable success.

CHEERS,DAWN!

federalrealty.com

FRIT_Corp_TopWomenToWatchAd_DawnBecker_62718.indd 1 3/28/16 12:58 PM

A publication of Sokol Media LLC

TOP WOMEN TO WATCHIN DC REAL ESTATE

SPRING 2016

KAREN PENAFIELBOMA

International

DAWN BECKER Federal RealtyInvestment Trust

DEBBIE CROUSE • KATIE CHOWDHRY • CHRISTA DOMMERSJANE GUSTAFSON • ELIZABETH HEIDER • JENNA HOWARDMICHELLE KILBY • MARYJANE KING • PHYLLIS LIEBMAN

AMY NAVABI • BRANDICE SCHAEFER • SUMAN SORG

top women to watch in dc real estate

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